We are a society "addicted to cars," according to the four young founders of Urb-i.
Traffic lanes and parking take precedent over green spaces and outdoor seating. People traveling on foot are quarantined to tiny sidewalks.
It just doesn’t seem fair. Fortunately, the founders of Urb-i — Carolina Guido, Fernanda Mercês, Rodolfo Macedo, and Yuval Fogelson — have an addiction of their own ...
They're obsessed with Google Street View.
The foursome would spend hours diving into the search engine’s rabbit hole, scanning the world for stunning public space redesigns that favor pedestrians over vehicles.
In some areas, Google Street View offers a timeline of images, so you can see how a space has evolved over time.
It’s pretty satisfying to see the results.
Urb-i began curating the images in a gallery, hoping to showcase public spaces that put pedestrians (and cyclers) first.
They keep tabs on urban-transformation blogs and architectural projects, so they know where to check on Google Street View.
The before and after images look like reflections, thanks to carefully angled screenshots.
Today, Urb-i's before-and-after gallery contains more than 300 public space transformations from around the world.
In São Paulo, Brazil, where Urb-i's members work at a socially responsible architecture firm, this alleyway got a new life with a fresh coat of pavement and colorful flags.
The makeovers vary in scale. A side street in Antwerp, Belgium, is nearly unrecognizable after an outdoor eating area and greenery are added.
A gas station becomes a parking lot, then a restaurant, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Two whole traffic lanes disappeared from Budapest, Hungary, giving locals and tourists more space to take in the harbor views.
Sometimes all it takes is a crosswalk, as demonstrated in Southport, Australia.
"For the pedestrian, an extra meter or two of sidewalk means a whole lot,” Urb-i says.
Size isn't the only thing that matters.
“If designed well," Urb-i says, a public space "functions as a place of permanence where we socialize, rather than just a passage to get us from point A to point B."
Let's take a look at some more examples ...
A little greenery goes a long way in Bordeux, France.
Motorists in Palermo, Italy, can enjoy the shrubbery, too.
A Detroit, Michigan, swamp makes way for a park.
Shrubs brighten up a quiet street in Lyon, France.
Copenhagen actually removed some greenery to make space for pedestrians.
Horsham, an English market town, looks like a postcard with its patterned pavement.
This Mexico City street looks infinitely easier to navigate on foot.
A widened, simplified cross walk makes navigating Seoul's busy streets a little easier.
In Budapest, Hungary, a well-manicured curb looks (and smells) far more pleasant than a bunch of trash cans.
Montreal's entertainment district is transformed by planter boxes and outdoor seating.
Copenhagen has a case of the spots.
London's Granary Square gets a face-lift.
In Ipswich, England, these cement cubes offer a place to sit.
Cobblestone is back in style in Lódz, Poland.
We love this pop of color in Seoul.
You won't find any cars in this beautiful New York City hub.
An overpass in Seoul provides a whole new view.
A bustling street in Napoli, Italy, becomes a tranquil walkway.
Bikes reign supreme in Copenhagen.
This corner in New York City looks totally different.
A unique piece of art sits at the center of this redesigned public space in The Netherlands.
A park takes the place of a parking lot in Queens.
You can see more before-and-after images and contribute your own by visiting Urb-i's website.
